CMWD 56

Chapter 56

Dimidius still felt as if Olentia’s warmth remained in his chest. When she had run to him and embraced him, a surge of joy had washed over him, as if he possessed the entire world. Fortunately, he hadn’t shown it to Olentia, but his heart had been racing so fast he nearly gave himself away.

When Dimidius entered his study looking dazed, Killun grabbed his shoulder and shook him.

“Your Grace! Your Grace! What is the matter?”

Only then did Dimidius snap back to reality and pull from his pocket the pin-like video stones. It was time to check them.

“So you brought them! That’s a relief, Your Grace.”

At Killun’s words, Dimidius activated the video stone, and the movement paths of the assassins appeared in midair. Dimidius and Killun stared for a long time at the dark night, the open fields, and the streets.

Just as the viewing began to feel tedious, finally the image of the Empress appeared before them. They had worried that someone managing the assassins from the middle might appear instead, but fortunately, it was really the Empress.

In the footage, the Empress looked extremely ferocious.

“You failed to kill the Duke? And yet you come to the capital like this!”

As the Empress raged, the assassin wearing the video stone spoke.

“I thought I should report the assault on the Duke’s castle. I apologize, Your Majesty. The north gate was closed, and we tried to force the main gate, but we failed.”

“You didn’t tell the Duke about me, did you?”

“Of course not. We are all indebted to Your Majesty. We swore to live for Your Majesty alone.”

“Then you should all die for me. Everyone.”

As the swords flew toward the assassin wearing the video stone, the Empress disappeared from view. The assassins’ bodies were loaded onto carts and taken outside the capital. Only the rattling of the carts could be heard in the darkness.

Dimidius and Killun remained silent for a moment, exchanging only deep sighs.

Although Dimidius had found undeniable evidence of the Empress’s scheming, he felt uneasy. Even though these were assassins sent to kill him, seeing them abandoned by the lord they had trusted was unsettling.

Now, he could bring the Empress to justice at any time.

Dimidius decided to wait for the perfect moment.

After the commotion, the staff of the Duke’s castle underwent a thorough investigation. To root out any possible spies, the atmosphere in the castle was tense and cold. Even Olentia found it difficult to breathe comfortably.

Feeling a tightness in her chest, she stepped outside. Few staff members were visible, perhaps because most had gone to be questioned by Dimidius. The place felt eerily quiet.

Recently, Olentia had secretly been practicing creating white spheres. She had already shown them to Podion, so that was fine—she just had to be careful not to let others see.

As she looked around the fountain, suddenly:

Woof! Woof!

A dog barked somewhere nearby. Startled, Olentia looked around and spotted a small, cute dog with soft, white fur.

“Ah! A puppy? Why is it here?”

Olentia spoke in a gentle voice and picked up the dog. She assumed it might be a stray living nearby.

But then Podion approached, looking puzzled.

“Why would such a young dog be here? That’s strange.”

“Maybe its mother is nearby? If so, we should find her.”

At that moment, the right Pieta bracelet—Olentia’s “companion”—glimmered slightly, and a divine voice reached her.

[Malraeng. It’s me.]

Olentia felt a tingling in her head and opened her eyes wide.

‘Pieta? It’s not a dangerous time now. Why are you speaking to me?’

[I saw the white sphere you made. Well done.]

‘I did it! I was surprised myself. And why do you keep calling me Malraeng?’

[Because it’s soft and squishy, like a cream bun.]

It was strange. She was no longer a child, so why squishy? Still, the nickname “Malraeng” now felt friendly.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that the puppy in her arms was speaking to her. Its bright eyes gazed at her, filled with profound emotion.

‘Am I imagining things?’

The divine voice spoke again.

[Not imagining, it’s me, Malraeng.]

‘This puppy… is Pieta?’

Olentia nearly fainted in shock. Podion, noticing her silence, asked in confusion:

“Milady, can you not hear me?”

Finally, Olentia smiled awkwardly.

“Ah, sorry. My mind was elsewhere.”

“It’s fine. What will you do with the puppy?”

The puppy, warm in her arms, wagged its tail gently. It was indeed the mischievous Pieta.

Why had he descended to the mortal world? And why as a white puppy?

Olentia stroked the puppy and said,

“I’ll raise you. I must raise you, Sir Podion.”

She carried the puppy to her bedroom. The staff of Bovina Duke’s castle were delighted to hear that she would raise it.

Watching the puppy playfully show off in front of the staff, Olentia laughed bitterly. What was going on?

Later, when Bovina and the staff had left, Olentia crossed her arms and asked Pieta:

“Why are you doing this? Why in that form…”

She was genuinely puzzled. Could a god come to the human world at will?

Pieta sat on the floor, licking his paw, and spoke nonchalantly.

[If I descended in my divine form, Malraeng, your eyes would go blind. That’s why I chose this small, friendly creature. Everyone naturally feels affectionate toward animals.]

“That makes sense. Then why did you come to me?”

[I see that you’re gradually preparing to fight. Once you awaken, you can grow infinitely. You will gain various abilities.]

“I see. But fight? With whom?”

[You’ll know later. No need to ask now.]

Pieta circled the bedroom for a while, then curled up on a soft rug and closed his eyes.

[I keep feeling sleepy. This small, cute creature apparently sleeps more than ten hours a day.]

Olentia had many questions, but Pieta soon fell asleep. Even if she asked, he likely wouldn’t tell. Pieta often spoke in mysterious ways in the past.

Pieta sleeping on the rug was irresistibly cute. He was a god who appeared in dangerous moments to ambiguously help her, then disappeared.

Would this time be different? Would he stay longer?

It had been an unbelievable day.

After dinner, Olentia headed to the indoor garden on the second floor to rest and aid digestion.

The garden was well-maintained, with purple hydrangeas standing out. Their fresh summer energy seemed to emanate life.

Lost in thought, she sensed someone entering the garden. Turning, she widened her eyes. It was Dimidius, busy with the staff investigations. He walked briskly in a navy suit, like the night sky.

“I didn’t realize you were here, Lady.”

“Yes, I was just resting a moment.”

“Please relax. I will leave.”

As he tried to depart, Olentia grasped his coat. Her feelings spread through the gentle tug.

Dimidius swallowed nervously.

“You wish to stay with me? Is that allowed?”

Olentia closed her eyes tightly and nodded. It was silly to say she didn’t want to be with him while holding his coat.

Because she truly did want to be with him.

He had been so busy she had felt lonely.

She felt sad when he didn’t show her attention.

After gathering these feelings, she didn’t know what else to do.

She carefully brought him to a chair. Dimidius sat beside her, and together they looked at the flowers in the garden.

Even just being together made her heart flutter. She managed to speak:

“Can you find the mastermind behind sending the assassins? You said they’re all dead.”

Dimidius turned to look at her, his red eyes flashing.

“I have the evidence. So don’t worry.”

“Evidence? Then why not reveal it immediately? Why remain silent?”

“Could you accompany me to the royal hunting tournament next week?”

Olentia tilted her head at his unexpected question. They were talking about evidence, not hunting.

But Dimidius seemed to have a plan.

“All nobles will attend the royal hunting tournament. I intend to reveal the evidence then.”

“Ah…”

“And I would like you to be there with me, Lady. Of course, if it’s burdensome, you may stay at the Duke’s castle.”

As he tried to backtrack, Olentia spoke urgently:

“I—I’ll go! I will attend as the Duchess as well.”

Though the name Olentia Belial once felt awkward, it no longer did. She wanted to be present as a member of the Belial family to witness the mastermind behind the assault on the Duke’s castle and support Dimidius.

With Olentia’s agreement, Dimidius again looked at the flowerbed. He seemed nonchalant, but perhaps a slight smile lingered behind his mask. Even if it was her imagination, it didn’t matter.